INSPIRATIONAL TAYLOR WOMEN - PENNY HARRISON #14
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Introducing Penny, an inspiring woman who owns her own business that provides leadership development and support, whilst also being involved in local community boards and committees.
It is always so lovely to have the beautiful Penny in-store and to have her be a part of our taylor family. Penny has supported Vicki and the taylor brand almost since the beginning and her personal style has evolved alongside the brand. Penny has an incredible, innate sense of style and really embraces what it means to be a taylor woman. We recently caught up with Penny to learn a little bit more about her life and how taylor has integrated into her wardrobe for so many years.
Penny wears the Belted Reflection Coat, Calibration Hoodie, Undone Tunic in Ivory Cubed Mesh and the Uncuffed Variegate Pants in Slate.
Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
I grew up in provincial New Zealand in Timaru, which has the mountains on one side and the sea on the other. This means I’ve always had a strong connection to being near water and being able to walk and explore the outdoors. That said, I love the city for its diverse connection of people, culture – music, movies, theatre and dinners with friends with great food and wine!
What do I do? I’m happiest when I’m able to connect people and ideas to motivate and inspire growth – be it individuals, teams or organisations. This shows up in my own business called Communicate where I provide leadership development, coaching and facilitation, and in my community governance work chairing a high school board and on the general committee of a local sailing club. I’ve been self-employed for almost 16 years and love the diversity of the people and organisations I’m lucky enough to work with. For example, I’m currently Director of a leadership programme for Global Women called Activate.
Penny wears the Belted Reflection Coat, Calibration Hoodie, Undone Tunic in Ivory Cubed Mesh and the Uncuffed Variegate Pants in Slate.
We understand you have been a fan of taylor for many years, do you remember what first attracted you to our brand?
Yes, I was excited to discover taylor when I first moved to Auckland, 15 years ago. I remember walking into the Ponsonby store and I was wearing my favourite winter coat designed by Zana Feuchs (ZFA), she had been the go-to designer in Wellington and had recently returned home from Europe. Vicki asked about the jacket and knew Zana, telling me she had been inspired by her when she was a young designer learning her own craft. The connection was very cool, and I knew I had found my new go-to designer! What I loved about taylor was the strong sense of style (that you could make your own). Great fabrics, texture and design that helped you put together something that made you feel fabulous. I love how the clothes help you transition through the different roles you have to show up in throughout the day. For example I need the corporate look for work, dressy casual as a mum driving my son around, through to the evening events I attend. You can use the taylor base and add different pieces to go anywhere. I’ve also travelled a lot with my work so find the clothes travel well and have lasted over the years!
Penny wears the Isolate Cardi in Tobira, the Stripe Core Tunic and Pinstripe Transpire Pants.
Vicki has fond memories of having inspiring styling sessions with you when our workroom was located above our store, how would you describe your personal style and has it evolved over the years?
I like to think my style is individual - funky and not too structured (which is also my personality, I’m more organised chaos). I love wearing clothes that both feel good as in the texture of the fabric and make you look your best and fit with who you are. I value uniqueness and in my work I enjoy seeing people comfortable in their own skin. I think the taylor brand helps women feel this way!
Over the years, I don’t think my style has changed too much, in more recent times and with the way we now work, I dress more casually. I’ve enjoyed seeing different seasons of taylor come together and bring life to older pieces I have in my wardrobe.
Penny wears the Wool Perforate Coat, Stripe Core Tunic and Pinstripe Transpire Pants
We understand you have a busy lifestyle, are there key taylor pieces in your wardrobe that cross between workwear and weekend wear?
Yes, the integral pants will always be a classic for this. Also some of the knitwear and more casual jackets. Of course, I love the taylor basics such as the tanks and mesh under layers.
Penny wears the Wool Perforate Coat, Stripe Core Tunic and Pinstripe Transpire Pants
How do you approach dressing for work, are there any pieces in our current collection you have your eye on?
I’ve already purchased some new pieces. I'm loving the long shirts that look great over the integral pants. I'm also really enjoying the new crushed range, I have both the tops and pants in these. The new white silk and lacy mesh are also a new fave.
Penny is wearing the Print Shard Shirt Dress in Tobira, Integral Pants, a Fitted Translucent Tunic and an Extension Tank.
Congratulations on your new role, would you mind telling us about what it involves?
The Programme Director role at Global Women is just one of the things I do, I’m contracted to them for a few days a month. This role is at the core of what I love doing – developing and delivering a programme that creates an effective and motivating learning environment for women. Helping women be great leaders for Aotearoa.
Penny wears the Wool Perforate Coat, Silk Mesh Camber with an Extension Tank and the Uncuffed Variegate Pant in Tobira.
What are your favourite taylor pieces you have collected over the years that you always go back to?
My favourites are always trousers. I’m a trouser girl, as you know! So I always buy taylor trousers – they consistently provide fantastic style and suit me. My other favourites have been a couple of knitwear pieces, my black leather jacket and striped jacket which I wore for the photoshoot today!
Penny wears the Wool Perforate Coat, Silk Mesh Camber with an Extension Tank and the Uncuffed Variegate Pant in Tobira.
Do you have any career highlights you would like to share?
Many! I've been fortunate to have had some amazing roles and worked with great people throughout the years. I love what I do. So I guess the biggest highlight would be having my own business and being able to weave together lots of skills and learnings from my previous roles into doing what I do now. I’ve found my happy place – working with others to help them be successful in their roles gives me great joy.
Penny wears her own archive taylor jacket and pants with the Drape Inflate Top in Black.
How do you like to unwind on the weekends and what are your go-to comfortable pieces to relax in?
I’m what they call an active relaxer. So I need a mix of doing and chilling. The doing would be walking and exploring new places and when we can, my husband and I enjoy travelling. To relax, I love reading.
You can also never go past spending time with people, eating great food and enjoying great wine!
My favourite chilling clothes would be the new crushed pants and t-shirts for the summer and knits for winter.
Penny wears the Long Sleeve Relief Tunic in Black/Slate and the Cropt Conclusion Coat overtop.
Lastly, can you tell us something interesting about yourself that we don’t already know?
I’ve always had community-based roles, even as a child I signed up to Greenpeace and sent them some of my pocket money. Since then I trained as a first responder with St Johns Ambulance in my teens and spent every second weekend or so on emergency callout duty in my hometown Timaru. When I moved to Wellington in my early twenties to study, I joined Wellington Search and Rescue for three years. As I’ve got older my community roles have been linked more with families – such as 12 years on school boards and involvement with local sporting clubs. My son has had many laughs seeing his mum put her hand up to coach or manage teams doing things I’ve never done. How hard can it be? My 18-year-old son describes me as the mum that gets SH#T done!